Превращение
II
Buthesoondrewhisheadbackagainindisappointment;notonlydidthepaininhistenderleftsidemakeitdifficulttoeatthefood—hewasonlyabletoeatifhiswholebodyworkedtogetherasasnufflingwhole—butthemilkdidnottasteatallnice.Milklikethiswasnormallyhisfavouritedrink,andhissisterhadcertainlyleftitthereforhimbecauseofthat,butheturned,almostagainsthisownwill,awayfromthedishandcrawledbackintothecentreoftheroom.
Throughthecrackinthedoor,Gregorcouldseethatthegashadbeenlitinthelivingroom.Hisfatheratthistimewouldnormallybesatwithhiseveningpaper,readingitoutinaloudvoicetoGregor’smother,andsometimestohissister,buttherewasnownotasoundtobeheard.Gregor’ssisterwouldoftenwriteandtellhimaboutthisreading,butmaybehisfatherhadlostthehabitinrecenttimes.Itwassoquietallaroundtoo,eventhoughtheremusthavebeensomebodyintheflat.“Whataquietlifeitisthefamilylead”,saidGregortohimself,and,gazingintothedarkness,feltagreatpridethathewasabletoprovidealifelikethatinsuchanicehomeforhissisterandparents.Butwhatnow,ifallthispeaceandwealthandcomfortshouldcometoahorribleandfrighteningend?ThatwassomethingthatGregordidnotwanttothinkabouttoomuch,sohestartedtomoveabout,crawlingupanddowntheroom.
